Prisma database setup

Prisma Database Setup

Comprehensive guides for configuring Prisma ORM with various database providers.

When to Apply

Reference this skill when:

• Initializing a new Prisma project
• Switching database providers
• Configuring connection strings and environment variables
• Troubleshooting database connection issues
• Setting up database-specific features
• Generating and instantiating Prisma Client

Rule Categories by Priority

Priority	Category	Impact	Prefix
1	Provider Guides	CRITICAL	provider names
2	Prisma Postgres	HIGH	prisma-postgres
3	Client Setup	CRITICAL	prisma-client-setup

System Prerequisites

• Node.js 20.19.0+
• TypeScript 5.4.0+

Bun Runtime

If you're using Bun, run Prisma CLI commands with bunx --bun prisma ... so Prisma uses the Bun runtime instead of falling back to Node.js.

Supported Databases

Database	Provider String	Notes
PostgreSQL	postgresql	Default, full feature support
MySQL	mysql	Widespread support, some JSON diffs
SQLite	sqlite	Local file-based, no enum/scalar lists
MongoDB	mongodb	Mongo-specific workflow; do not apply SQL driver-adapter guidance
SQL Server	sqlserver	Microsoft ecosystem
CockroachDB	cockroachdb	Distributed SQL, Postgres-compatible
Prisma Postgres	postgresql	Managed serverless database

Configuration Files

Your configuration shape depends on the provider and Prisma major version:

1. All providers use prisma/schema.prisma.
2. Prisma 7 SQL setups typically use prisma.config.ts for datasource URLs.
3. MongoDB projects should stay on Prisma 6.x, keep url = env("DATABASE_URL") in the schema, and continue using the classic MongoDB setup.

Driver Adapters

The standard SQL workflow uses a driver adapter. Choose the adapter and driver for your database and pass the adapter to PrismaClient.

Database	Adapter	JS Driver
PostgreSQL	@prisma/adapter-pg	pg
CockroachDB	@prisma/adapter-pg	pg
Prisma Postgres (Node.js)	@prisma/adapter-pg	pg
Prisma Postgres (edge/serverless)	@prisma/adapter-ppg	@prisma/ppg
MySQL / MariaDB	@prisma/adapter-mariadb	mariadb
SQLite	@prisma/adapter-better-sqlite3	better-sqlite3
SQLite (Turso/LibSQL)	@prisma/adapter-libsql	@libsql/client
SQL Server	@prisma/adapter-mssql	node-mssql

MongoDB should not follow the Prisma 7 SQL adapter workflow. Use the latest Prisma 6.x release for MongoDB projects and do not install a SQL @prisma/adapter-* package for it.

Example (PostgreSQL):

import 'dotenv/config'
import { PrismaClient } from '../generated/client'
import { PrismaPg } from '@prisma/adapter-pg'

const adapter = new PrismaPg({ connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL })
const prisma = new PrismaClient({ adapter })

Prisma Client Setup (Required)

Prisma Client must be installed and generated for any database.

1. Install Prisma CLI and Prisma Client:

   npm install prisma --save-dev
   npm install @prisma/client
   

2. Add a generator block (prisma-client requires an explicit output path):

   generator client {
     provider = "prisma-client"
     output   = "../generated"
   }
   

3. Generate Prisma Client:

   npx prisma generate
   

4. For SQL providers, instantiate Prisma Client with the database-specific driver adapter:

   import { PrismaClient } from '../generated/client'
   import { PrismaPg } from '@prisma/adapter-pg'
   
   const adapter = new PrismaPg({ connectionString: process.env.DATABASE_URL })
   const prisma = new PrismaClient({ adapter })
   

5. Re-run prisma generate after every schema change.

Quick Reference

PostgreSQL

datasource db {
  provider = "postgresql"
}

generator client {
  provider = "prisma-client"
  output   = "../generated"
}

MySQL

datasource db {
  provider = "mysql"
}

generator client {
  provider = "prisma-client"
  output   = "../generated"
}

SQLite

datasource db {
  provider = "sqlite"
}

generator client {
  provider = "prisma-client"
  output   = "../generated"
}

MongoDB

datasource db {
  provider = "mongodb"
  url      = env("DATABASE_URL")
}

generator client {
  provider = "prisma-client-js"
}

For MongoDB, stay on the latest Prisma 6.x line and keep the connection URL in schema.prisma. Do not move a MongoDB project to the Prisma 7 SQL adapter setup.

Rule Files

See individual rule files for detailed setup instructions:

references/postgresql.md
references/mysql.md
references/sqlite.md
references/mongodb.md
references/sqlserver.md
references/cockroachdb.md
references/prisma-postgres.md
references/prisma-client-setup.md

How to Use

Choose the provider reference file for your database, then apply references/prisma-client-setup.md to complete client generation and adapter setup. For MongoDB, use references/mongodb.md instead of copying the SQL adapter examples or Prisma 7 config pattern.